Talking toy

ABSTRACT

The talking toy includes a toy body, an aperture that is formed in the toy body, a restrainer that is installed in the toy body and is able to restrain the aperture so as to seal the aperture, a sound resource that is installed in the toy body and makes voice sounds, and a controller that is installed in the toy body and varies a sound power level of the sound resource relative to a change of the opening degree of the aperture.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a talking toy which makes voice sounds.

2. Description of Related Art

Hitherto, there have been toys which make voice sounds. Japanese Registered Utility Model No. 3113924 discloses a puppet toy in which a sound power level is adjustable in proportion to the degree of opening of a mouth. Japanese Registered Utility Model No. 3112138 also discloses a toy which makes voice sounds through the operation of a switch that is built into the belly. According to this toy, the degree of opening of the mouth may be adjusted by changing the pressing force on the belly. That is, the mouth is opened to a large extent when the belly is strongly pressed and is opened to a small extent when the belly is weakly pressed.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,447,461 discloses a toy which makes voice sounds through a switch configured to turn on when a mouth is largely opened.

All of these have a structure which makes voice sounds so that the toy starts to talk due to the movement of the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a talking toy including: a toy body; an aperture that is formed in the toy body; a restrainer that is installed in the toy body and adjusts the opening degree of the aperture by restraining the aperture; a sound resource that is installed in the toy body and makes voice sounds; and a controller that is installed in the toy body and varies a sound power level of the sound resource relative to a change of the opening degree of the aperture.

In the talking toy, the controller may drive the sound resource so as to output voice sounds even when the aperture is fully sealed by the restrainer.

The restrainer may adjust the opening degree of the aperture in a direction from a corner of the aperture to the other corner thereof.

The talking toy of the invention further includes a detector that detects a change of the opening degree of the aperture, and the controller may control the sound power level of the sound resource based on the output of the detector.

The restrainer may be a slide fastener.

The detector may include a switch that acts relative to a change of the opening degree of the aperture.

The switch may act due to the movement of the restrainer.

The detector may include a first switch disposed close to a corner of the aperture and a second switch disposed close to the other corner of the aperture.

The controller may vary the sound power level of the sound resource based on combinations of a status of the first switch and a status of the second switch.

The restrainer may be a slide fastener, and the detector may include a proximity switching device which is able to detect the proximity of a slider of the slide fastener.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the entire image of a talking toy of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing respective units which are built in the talking toy of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a first variant of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a partial diagram showing a second variant of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a partial diagram showing a third variant of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a partial diagram showing a fourth variant of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram showing respective units which are built in the talking toy of the fourth variant.

FIG. 8 is a partial diagram showing a fifth variant of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a talking toy 1A of the embodiment is a plush doll which imitates, for example, a person or an animal. The toy 1 includes; a toy body 2; a mouth (corresponding to the aperture of the invention) 4 which is formed in a head 2 a of the toy body 2; an adjuster 6 which adjusts the opening degree of the mouth 4 by restraining the mouth; a sound resource 8 which outputs voice sounds; a detector 9 which detects the opening degree of the mouth 4; and a controller 10 which controls the sound resource 8. Furthermore, the toy includes a main switch 11A and a power supply 11B. The controller 10 varies the sound power level of the sound resource 8 relative to a change of the opening degree of the mouth 4 based on the output of the detector 9. The adjuster 6 and the detector 9 are built in the head 2 a, and the sound resource 8, the controller 10, the main switch 11A, and the power supply 11B are built in a portion of a body 2 b of the toy body 2.

The adjuster 6 is a slide fastener 12 which sews the outer cloths of the head 2 a in the direction between the corners of the mouth. The slide fastener 12 includes: a pair of tapes 12 a and 12 b; plural elements 12 c which are arranged in series on each tape; a slider 12 d which is movable in the longitudinal direction of both tapes between the pair of tapes 12 a and 12 b; and a tab 12 e which is used to operate the slider 12 d. The slide fastener 12 may not only simply adjust the opening degree of the mouth 4, but also restrain the closed mouth 4 so as to be sealed. Furthermore, in the embodiment, the element 12 c is formed of resin, and the slider 12 d is formed of metal with magnetism.

When the slider 12 d of the slide fastener 12 is moved from one mouth corner 4 a toward the other mouth corner 4 b, the restraint using the slide fastener 12 is released, so that the opening degree of the mouth 4 gradually increases. Conversely, when the slider 12 d is moved from the other mouth corner 4 b toward the one mouth corner 4 a, the mouth is gradually restrained by the slide fastener 12, so that the opening degree decreases.

An inner frame 13 and two leaf switches 14 and 15 which serve as the detector 9 are installed in the head 2 a. A rigid slot 13 a is formed in the inner frame 13, and is positioned at the inside of the mouth 4. The inner frame 13 is provided with an inner slider 13 b which is available to move along the rigid slot 13 a. The inner slider 13 b is coupled with the slider 12 d of the slide fastener 12, and thereby the inner slider 13 b moves along the rigid slot 13 a with the slider 12. One leaf switch 14 is disposed on one side end of the rigid slot 13 a, and is close to the one mouth corner 4 a. Also, the other leaf switch 15 is disposed on the other side end of the rigid slot 13 a, and is close to the other mouth corner 4 b.

The leaf switch 14 is provided with a pair of contact pieces 16 a, 16 b, and the leaf switch 15 is provided with a pair of contact pieces 17 a and 17 b.

With the leaf switch 14, when the slider 12 d of the slide fastener 12 is moved close to one mouth corner 4 a so as to make the inner slider 13 b come into contact with the contact piece 16 a, thereby the contact piece 16 a is pushed onto the contact piece 16 b by the inner slider 13 b. The leaf switch 14 outputs a signal due to the contact of the pieces 16 a and 16 b (the switch 14 is “ON”). Further, when the slider 12 d is moved away from the one mouth corner 4 a so as to make the inner slider 13 b separate from the contact piece 16 a, the contact piece 16 a is separated from the contact piece 16 b, thereby stopping the output of the signal (the switch 14 is “OFF”).

With the leaf switch 15, when the slider 12 d is moved close to the other mouth corner 4 b so as to make the inner slider 13 b come into contact with the contact piece 17 a, thereby the contact piece 17 a is pushed onto the contact piece 17 b by the inner slider 13 b. The leaf switch 15 outputs a signal due to the contact of the pieces 17 a and 17 b (the switch 15 is “ON”). Further, when the slider 12 d is moved away from the one mouth corner 4 b so as to make the inner slider 13 b separate from the contact piece 17 a, the contact piece 17 a is separated from the contact piece 17 b, thereby stopping the output of the signal (the switch 15 is “OFF”).

In the state where the slider 12 d is moved to the one mouth corner 4 a so as to completely seal the mouth 4, the leaf switch 14 is “ON” and the leaf switch 15 is “OFF”. On the other hand, in the state where the slider 12 d is moved to the other mouth corner 4 b so as to completely open the mouth 4, the leaf switch 14 is “OFF” and the leaf switch 15 is “ON”. Further, in the state where the slider 12 d is disposed at the center of the mouth 4, that is, a position away from the one mouth corner 4 a and the other mouth corner 4 b, the leaf switches 14 and 15 are both “OFF”.

The detector 9 which includes the switches 14 and 15 detects the opening degree of the mouth 4 in three stages, a “fully closed state”, a “half opened state”, and a “fully opened state” by the combinations of “ON” and “OFF” of both switches.

When the slider 12 d is positioned near the one mouth corner 4 a (the switch 14 is “ON” and the switch 15 is “OFF”), the controller 10 determines that the mouth 4 is in the “fully closed state” by receiving a signal from the leaf switch 14, and transmits a voice sound signal of a first pattern. The sound resource 8 receives the voice sound signal of the first pattern from the controller 10, and makes a voice sound which sounds like a voice generated when the mouth is restrained such that the voice is muffled.

When the slider 12 d is positioned near the other mouth corner 4 b (the switch 14 is “OFF” and the switch 15 is “ON”), the controller 10 determines that the mouth 4 is in the “fully opened state” by receiving a signal from the leaf switch 15, and transmits a voice sound signal of a second pattern. The sound resource 8 receives the voice sound signal of the second pattern from the controller 10, and makes a voice sound which sounds like a voice generated when the restraint of the mouth 4 is released such that the voice is distinct.

When the slider 12 d is positioned at the center of the mouth 4, that is, a position away from the one mouth corner 4 a and the other mouth corner 4 b (both of the switches 14 and 15 are “OFF”), the controller 10 determines that the mouth 4 is in the “half opened state” since there is no signal transmitted from any one of the leaf switches 14 and 15, and transmits a voice sound signal of a third pattern. The sound resource 8 receives the voice sound signal of the second pattern from the controller 10, and makes a voice sound which sounds like a voice generated when the mouth 4 is half restrained such that the voice is slightly muffled.

The user turns on the main switch, and moves the slider 12 d of the slide fastener 12. When the mouth 4 is sealed by the slide fastener 12, the talking toy 1A makes a muffled sound. When the user feels pity at this situation and moves the slider 12 d so as to open the mouth 4, the talking toy 1A makes a distinct loud sound. Alternatively, when the user feels it noisy and gradually moves the slider 12 d so as to seal the mouth 4, the voice tone of the talking toy 1A becomes a muffled.

The talking toy 1A is not a simple doll which only makes or stops a voice sound through the operation of the switch according to the intention of the user. That is, the user may not stop the voice sound, but the user may enjoy a behavior when the toy 1A is permitted to arbitrarily talk or the toy 1A is made to be silent.

The talking toy 1A of the invention may change the voice sound of the plush doll, which may not be realized according to the imagination, by installing a zipper in the mouth, thereby providing a wide variety of tastes for the user.

As described above, the exemplary embodiment of the invention has been described, but the invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. Additions, omissions, substitutions, and other modifications of the configuration may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the tact switching devices 18 and 19 shown in FIG. 3 may be adopted instead of the leaf switches 14 and 15. The tact switches 18 and 19 are respectively provided with levers 18 a and 19 a.

When the slider 12 d of the slide fastener 12 is moved close to the one mouth corner 4 a, the inner slider 13 b following the slider 12 d turns the lever 18 a, thereby the switching device 18 outputs a signal (the switch 18 is “ON”). Further, when the slider 12 d is moved away from one mouth corner 4 a, the inner slider 13 b is separated from the lever 18 a, thereby stopping the output of the signal (the switch 18 is “OFF”).

When the slider 12 d is moved close to the other mouth corner 4 b, the inner slider 13 b turns the lever 19 a, thereby the switching device 19 outputs a signal (the switch 19 is “ON”). Further, when the slider 12 d is moved away from the other mouth corner 4 b, the inner slider 13 b is separated from the lever 19 a, thereby stopping the output of the signal (the switch 19 is “OFF”).

As in the leaf switches 14 and 15, the detector 9 detects the opening degree of the mouth 4 in three stages, a “fully closed state”, a “half opened state”, and a “fully opened state” by the combinations of “ON” and “OFF” of the tact switching devices 18 and 19.

The magnet switching devices 20 and 21 shown in FIG. 4 may be adopted instead of the leaf switches 14 and 15. The magnet switch 20 is provided with a pair of contact pieces 22 a, 22 b, and the magnet switch 21 is provided with a pair of contact pieces 23 a and 23 b. In addition, a magnetic body 24 is fixed on the inner slider 13 b.

When the slider 12 d of the slide fastener 12 is moved close to one mouth corner 4 a so as to make the inner slider 13 b close to the magnet switch 20, the piece 22 a contacts the piece 22 b due to an attraction force of the magnetic body 24 fixed on the inner slider 13 b, thereby the magnet switch 20 outputs a signal (the switch 20 is “ON”). Further, when the slider 12 d is moved away from the one mouth corner 4 a so as to make the inner slider 13 b separate from the magnet switch 20, the piece 22 a is separated from the piece 22 b, thereby stopping the output of the signal (the switch 20 is “OFF”).

When the slider 12 d is moved close to one mouth corner 4 b so as to make the inner slider 13 b close to the magnet switch 21, the piece 23 a contacts the piece 23 b due to the attraction force of the magnetic body 24, thereby the magnet switch 21 outputs a signal (the switch 21 is “ON”). Further, when the slider 12 d is moved away from the one mouth corner 4 b so as to make the inner slider 13 b separate from the magnet switch 21, the piece 23 a is separated from the piece 23 b, thereby stopping the output of the signal (the switch 21 is “OFF”).

As in the leaf switches 14 and 15, the detector 9 detects the opening degree of the mouth 4 in three stages, a “fully closed state”, a “half opened state”, and a “fully opened state” by the combinations of “ON” and “OFF” of the magnet switching devices 20 and 21.

Because the magnet switches 20, 21 can be driven with no contact with the magnetic body 24 fixed on the inner slider 13 b, flexible location of the magnet switches 20, 21 expands the possibility of the design of this talking toy.

A mechanism shown in FIG. 5 may be adopted instead of the slide fastener 12 which restrains the mouth 4 of the talking toy 1A. This mechanism 25 includes a shutter 26 which seals the mouth 4 through the movement between the mouth corners 4 a and 4 b of the mouth 4 in a reciprocating manner. A metallic projection 26 a for operating the shutter 26 is attached to the corner of the shutter 26. When the shutter 26 having the projection 26 a is moved from the one mouth corner 4 a toward the other mouth corner 4 b, the mouth 4 is opened. When the shutter is moved from the other mouth corner 4 b toward the one mouth corner 4 a, the mouth 4 is closed.

In the state where the projection 26 a of the shutter 21 is moved to the one mouth corner 4 a so as to completely seal the mouth 4, the leaf switching device 14 is “ON” and the leaf switching device 15 is “OFF”. On the other hand, in the state where the projection 26 a is moved to the other mouth corner 4 b so as to completely open the mouth 4, the leaf switching device 14 is “OFF” and the leaf switching device 15 is “ON”. Furthermore, even in the state where the projection 26 a is disposed at the center of the mouth 4, that is, a position away from the one mouth corner 4 a and the other mouth corner 4 b, the leaf switching devices 14 and 15 are both “OFF”.

Another mechanism shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 may be adopted instead of the slide fastener 12. That is an opening mechanism used for Japanese traditional coin purses, which is called “GAMA-GUCHI”. In this mechanism 30, two curved members 31 and 32 are connected to each other through link mechanisms 33 at both ends. When the two members are moved close to each other in an overlapping manner, protrusions 31 a and 32 a which are respectively fixed to the center portions of the two members engage with each other so as to close the mouth 4. A contact-type switch 34 is installed in the curved member 31. In the state where the mouth of the GAMA-GUCHI is closed, the switch 34 is “ON”. In the state where the mouth of the GAMA-GUCHI is opened, the switch is “OFF”.

In the state where the mouth of the GAMA-GUCHI is closed (the switch 34 is “ON”), the controller 10 determines that the mouth 4 is in the “fully closed state” by receiving a signal from the switch 34, and transmits a voice sound signal of a first pattern. The sound resource 8 receives the voice sound signal of the first pattern from the controller 10, and makes a voice sound which sounds like a voice generated when the mouth is restrained so that the voice is muffled.

In the state where the mouth of the GAMA-GUCHI is opened (the switch 34 is “OFF”), the controller 10 determines that the mouth 4 is in the “fully opened state” since there is no signal input from the switch 34, and transmits a voice sound signal of a second pattern. The sound resource 8 receives the voice sound signal of the second pattern from the controller 10, and makes a voice sound which sounds like a voice generated when the restraint of the mouth 4 is released so that the voice is distinct.

The talking toy of the invention may be applied to not only a plush doll which imitates a living object such as a person or an animal with a mouth, but also a plush doll which imitates a living object without a mouth in original or a plush doll which imitates a nonliving object. For example, a talking toy 1B shown in FIG. 8 is a plush doll which imitates a broad bean. An aperture 42 is formed in a portion of a hull 40 which encloses the beans, and the aperture 42 is provided with the slide fastener 12 which serves as an adjuster that adjusts the opening degree of the aperture 42 by restraining the aperture. The detector which detects the opening degree of the aperture 42, the sound resource, and the controller which controls the sound resource may adopt a plural of structures of the talking toy 1A.

In the talking toy of the invention 1B, the plush doll of the broad bean which may not talk like a living object with an intention. The user may obtain a wide variety of tastes by changing the voice sound of the curious plush doll through the zipper which is opened and closed.

Further, the talking toy of the invention may be applied to not only a plush doll, but also toys made of different materials, such as a resinous doll.

The invention is not limited to the above-mentioned description, and is limited only to the scope of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A talking toy comprising: a toy body; an aperture that is formed in the toy body; a restrainer that is installed in the toy body and is able to restrain the aperture so as to seal the aperture; a sound resource that is installed in the toy body and makes voice sounds; and a controller that is installed in the toy body and varies a sound power level of the sound resource relative to a change of the opening degree of the aperture.
 2. The talking toy according to claim 1, wherein the controller drives the sound resource so as to output voice sounds even when the aperture is fully sealed by the restrainer.
 3. The talking toy according to claim 1, wherein the restrainer adjusts the opening degree of the aperture in a direction from one corner of the aperture to the other corner thereof.
 4. The talking toy according to claim 1, further comprising: a detector that detects a change of the opening degree of the aperture, wherein the controller controls the sound power level of the sound resource based on the output of the detector.
 5. The talking toy according to claim 3, wherein the restrainer is a slide fastener.
 6. The talking toy according to claim 4, wherein the detector includes a switch that acts relative to a change of the opening degree of the aperture.
 7. The talking toy according to claim 6, wherein the switch acts due to a movement of the restrainer.
 8. The talking toy according to claim 6, wherein the detector includes a first switch disposed close to a corner of the aperture, and a second switch disposed close to the other corner of the aperture.
 9. The talking toy according to claim 8, wherein the controller varies a sound power level of the sound resource based on combinations of a status of the first switch and a status of the second switch.
 10. The talking toy according to claim 5, wherein the restrainer is a slide fastener, and the detector includes a proximity switching device which is available to detect a proximity of a slider of the slide fastener. 